Wire-fence stretcher.



wit" macs PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

W. L. STEVENS! WIRE FENCE STRETGHBR.' nrmouxon rum) IAY 5, 1m.

attouwa o Tn: NORRIS Pzrbns co., WASHINGTON, n. c.-

UNITED srnrns PATENT ornron.

WILLIAM L. STEVENS, ORANGE, VIRGINIA.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 25, 11906.

Application filed May 5, 1906,. ?'Serial No. 315,422.

of the following is aspecification.

This invention provides simple, easily-operable, :and effective *IDGHIIISifQI use inconnection with the construction .of wire-fencing to admit of stretching the same preliniinary to fasteningto the posts.

In devising means for effecting the invention due regard has "been .had to expediting the Work and to admit of the fence-clamping i means being quickly placed in position and as expeditiously removed practically atone F the projecting ends .of the side members .of the clip. A roller 8 is mounted upon the pin (or .bar .7 :to reducethe ifrictionalrcontact .be-

movement :of an operating-lever.

The IIIVGIltlOIl consists, essentially, of a fence-clamp of novel formation, :the same. embodying itWO bars constituting clamp members, an operating-lever having .piv-

otal connection with one end :of each of the bars to :effect :a simultaneously relative longitudinal-and lateral-movement, and .a wedge connection at the opposite ends of the bars,

formed by tapering one 'ofsaid {bars and pro- Viding the other bar with a keeper.

Fora full descriptionof the invention and the merits thereof ,iand also to :acquire a knowledge of the details .of construction of the .means forleffect'ing the result reference is :to be had to the following description and;

accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted rtof different forms .and conditions bychanges :in

the structure and minor details without -de-' partingifrom the. spirit or, essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the aocompanying drawings, in wh1ch s Figure .1 is a perspective View of a wirefence stretcher embodying the invention, showing thesame as it will appear when in operation. Fig.2 isa top-plan'view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front View of the clamp, parts being brokenaway and showing the fence gripped between the complemental members. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated iinaill the views of the drawings by the same reference ichara cters.

The clamp comprises two bars 1 and 2, which constitute the members between whichithewir e fence 3 is grippediprelirninary I :to and (during the stretching operation. The

operating-lever 4 has pivotal connection with one end of each of the bars, with the result that when .oscillated the :bars receive ;a shunt 111821160118 longitudinal and lateral movement.

:One \of the bars, as 2, has the and opposite tween the tapered end .5 .of :bar 2 and theicooperating part .7 of the keeper. The inclinartionoif-the tapered part-5 is .such with atefen, :ence to the ,pivotal connection of the :bars with the operatingalever that the two 'bars.

maintain .a parallel relation throughoutall stages of their movement, (this being essenitial in .order to [insure a lfiI'IIl and -.uniform :grippingof the fenoethroughout its width.

The bars -1 :and .2 :are preferably of tough \wood, such as hickory or oak, although any material may be employed. The gripping faces of thelbars or members 1 and 2 have rmatchingoffset portions toicrimpcr bend they wire slightly, .so as toobviate possible slipping. The offset portionsmay be an integral art of the barsor mwytonsistiof strips applied thereto. ln-the prefera ble construction-ethat "is with the ,b ars formed ofwood metal strips .9 and 1:0 .are attached to .opposing faces .of the bars, so as. :to ,pass :each other and form the offset portionsy-whiohef- =fecta crimping or :bendingof the wire fence.

The metal-strip 9 .israttaohed to the bar :1 and.

is arranged to one ,side of a medial line, whereas the @metal-strip 210 .is fastened to the bar 2and arranged upon the oppositeside of said medial =line. By this arrangement when the bars are brought together the metal strips 9 and 10 clear each other and their inner or opposing edges form the offsets between which the wire fence is crimped, as shown ing-lever 1 5. 4

most clearly in -Fig.- 4. The tapered or inclined end5 of the bar 2 is reinforced by means of a plate which sustains the wear incident to engagement with the part 7 of the keeper.

When it is required to stretch the wire fence preliminary to attaching the same to the post or likesupport, the clamp is applied to the fence by separating the bars land 2 and passing them upon opposite sides of the fenceand bringing the lower ends together and inserting the tapered part 5 behind the pin or -bar 7 of the keeper, after which the operating-lever 4 is moved to cause the bars to come together and firmly grip the fence, the operating-lever being secured after the fence has been firmly gripped by means of a connection 11 and eye.or like part 12. The con nection 11 consists of a long hook loosely mounted upon the operating-lever 1 and adapted to have the hooked end engage with the eye 12, applied to the bar 2. The end of the connection 11, receiving the lever 4, is provided with a loop, and said connection is held in place by means of a keeper 13. After the clamp has been properly applied to the wire fencing and made secure by means of the connection 11 and cooperating part 12 suitable means are provided for cooperation with the clamp to effect tensioning of the fence by stretching the same. As shown, a grapple 14, operatinglever 15, and suitable connection are employed. The grapple .14

,con'sists of complemental hooks which are adapted to engage with members of the clamp upon opposite sides of the fence and which hooks are connected to a short chain 16, which in turn is connected to the operat- An anchor-chain 17 is likewise connected to the operating-lever 15 and is adapted to pass around a fence-post 18 and made secure. Preliminary-to stretching the fence the operating-lever 15 is about in line with the connecting-chains 16 and 17, and upon moving said operating-lever the inner ends of the chains 16 and 17 are drawn together, and since the anchor-chain 17 is at tachedto a fiXed part the combined movement is utilized for stretching the fence 3, as will be readily understood. After the fence has been stretched to the requisite degree the operating-lever 15 is secured by means of a short chain' 19 or analogous device, thereby holding the fence under tension during the securing of the same to the fence-post, after which the operating-lever 15 is released, the stretching device removed from the clamp,

-' and the-latter loosened and disconnected from the fence until again required for stretching another section.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character specified, the combination of clamp members, means for moving said members longitudinally, and means for simultaneously bringing the said members together so as to grip work placed therebetween.

2. In a device of the character specified, the combination of complemental clamp members, means for imparting a relative longitudinal movement thereto, and other means for moving the said clamp members toward each other, the same consisting of a keeper applied to one of the members and the other member having a tapered or inclined portion.

3. In a device of the character specified, the combination of clamp members, i'neans .for simultaneously moving said members longitudinally and laterally, and other means for pressing said members together, the same consisting of a keeper and a tapered or in clined end.

4. In a device of the character specified,

the combination of complemental bars, an operating-lever having pivotal connection with an end of said bars to effect a simultaneous longitudinal and lateral movement thereof, and means cooperating with the opposite ends of said bars, the same consisting of a keeper and an inclined or tapered portion. 5. In a device of the character specified, clamp members each having an offset portion to effect a crimping or bending of the object gripped therebetween, and actuating means for said members.

6. In a device of the character specified, the combination of complemental bars forming clamp members, actuating means therefor, and strips applied to opposite edge portions of the gripping-faces of said bars to prevent slipping of the object clamped therebetween.

7. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a clamp, a grapple, an operating-lever, connecting means between. the operating-lever and grapple, and a post or like object, and another connection for securing the parts when drawn together.

In testimony whereof I itf'IlX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. STEVENS.

Witnesses:

V. B. HILLYARD, J. D. YoAKLEY. 

